School Leadership in Argentina during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Emotions, Tensions and Policy Challenges for the Future

This paper reviews the professional situation of school principals during COVID-19 in Argentina, where one of the longest school closures in the world was maintained. It analyzes the existence of burnout, concerns, constraints and needs of 252 principals at the end of the 2020 school year. The results indicate that there is a double phenomenon of Emotional Exhaustion and Personal Accomplishment, while tensions with regulations and working conditions are evidenced. We found a leadership open to the context, with greater autonomy and a strong emotional commitment, with implications and challenges for the post-pandemic future.